Insurer data can help with workers comp claims management: ASSE speaker

LAS VEGAS — Employers can help keep their workers compensation claim costs down by partnering with their insurers to receive data and services that aid in safety and claim management, an Aon Risk Services executive said.

Scott Lassila, Houston-based lead consultant with Aon P.L.C., gave a presentation Wednesday afternoon during the American Society of Safety Engineers’ Safety 2013 conference in Las Vegas.

Companies often don’t ask for assistance from their insurers that can help them understand factors that are generating workers comp losses, Mr. Lassila said. This includes providing reports that show workers comp claim data in formats that are customized to a client’s specific needs, and offering help from consultants who can troubleshoot a company’s safety weaknesses.

“Ask the question ‘What other services do you have? How can you help me? Can you provide training?’” Mr. Lassila said of how employers should talk with their insurers.

In particular, Mr. Lassila said companies should be requesting data that shows a company’s workers comp claim development trends, along with asking for lag reports that exhibit the time it takes for an employer to report a workplace accident to an insurer. The latter can help employers keep costs down, Mr. Lassila said, because claims cost about 18% less on average when reported within three days of an accident.

All insurers and brokers have strengths and weaknesses in relation to industry knowledge, Mr. Lassila said. Companies should seek to do business with companies that have a strong understanding of that firm’s business environment and operations, he said.

“If you’re on the industry side, you don’t need to explain your business,” Mr. Lassila said.